Arriving Cajon Pass was a bit overwhelming experience since it is a major interstate 15 pass, where I saw a lot of traffic after many days of peaceful and quiet hikes. After the resupply, the trail took me to a beautiful valley of blooming yucca. One of the highlights of this section includes a thick blanket of fog protected me from the intense sun and heat for one morning. Then the trail continued to another snowy terrain that led me to four peak ascents in a day with a gorgeous view of the San Gabriel Mountains. I encountered the first trail closure due to endangered species protection. It gave me an opportunity for exciting off trail adventure down a steep, third class scree field into a drainage with a series of waterfalls and swimming holes. Cajon pass to Acton was the most pleasant hike in terms of terrain with lots of wildflowers and mild weather so far!
Appreciation: for Jeff, a climber, for giving me a ride out of Cajun pass to the trailhead. For the thick blanket fog for protecting me from the intense sun and the heat. For abundant Miners lettuce that eased my craving for greens. For mild weather. For beautiful wildflowers that showered me the entire way. For sacred spring that came out of a giant burned tree. Finally, no more rattle snakes!
Best learning: Gotta go with the flow. Still a lot of snow and the raging rivers ahead in the Sierra? Then adapt and change the plan accordingly whether I like it or not!
Challenges: Another snow travel above 8,500 feet. Lack of water.
Disappointment: Not seeing and knowing indigenous names of peaks I climbed. Need to do more homework. It seems like that the Sierra section of the PCT is still covered with tons of snow, but not enough for me to take the mountaineering approach to avoid raging rivers. An alternative that was suggested to me by the PCTA (Pacific Crest Trail Association) is that continuing to the Kennedy Meadows (mile 702), skip the Sierra section to Chester (mile 1,331), then continuing to Canada. Once reached Canada, then come back to Chester and go south bound to Kennedy Meadows to finish the entire PCT. I’m considering this great option and still I’m disappointed because 1) I like the north bound trip since I have the sun in my back most of the way, 2) I was excited to do one consecutive trip, 3) I enjoy watching the gradual change of landscape, and everything that belongs to the land, 4) I was curious to see how I perform at the crux of the entire PCT in terms of high altitude and massive elevation loss/gain starting with Mt. Whitney and seven passes over 11,000 feet. And finally, I dislike logistics and this flip flop option seems logically complicated, especially when I’m planning to do a bike ride as well! That’s how I feel right now at this moment and I’m sure things will unfold the way it is meant to be!
Exciting moments: Finally, after hiking 440 miles, I met two women of color! We looked at each other and immediately we connected. Serena, the first black person I met on this trail, took her time to interview me for her documentary project to increase awareness of BIPOC experience on the PCT. Mary who has roots in Thailand and is around my age, and her partner who is older than me, shared their experience. They made my day! I never imagined that I would indulge Subway’s salad (just lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and avocado) at Cajon Pass. I LOVE peak ascent so walking on the ridge and reaching four peaks in a single day was exciting. Off trail traveling and picking my own route is often a thrilled experience for me. My instinct is tested, all of my senses are fully awake and every judgment I make matters. I thrive in this kind of traveling in the mountains. The camp last night (June 3) was the best so far. It was getting little later than usual (I’m usually at camp between 5 and 6pm) so I was ready to settle down for the night. I finally found a decent ridge to climb off-trail to find a flat ground. There, I was greeted with wildflower garden with a stunning view and the sunset, waking up to watch the full moon set and sunrise. What an incredible treat the nature provided me after hiking 28 miles, the longest distance I covered in a single day so far on this trip. Finally, finding a wild honeybee hive in the cavity of an old tree was so exciting! Listening to the humming of our divine friends is such a gift.
